Improvement in game-tables



UNITED STATES l-ULTEnT OEEIcE GEORGE WITSIL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO THOMAS L. BATES, OF SAME PLAGE.

vIMPROVEMENT IN GAM E-TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,835, (lated September 10, 1878 application filed July 8, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn L. WiTsIL, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table- Games; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in game-tables, the object bein g to provide a table of such construction that new and interesting gaines may be played thereon, and also one that may be transformed into different forms of tables for the playing of different games.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 are views, in perspective, of 1n y improved game -table. Fig. 3 shows the table when converted into a billiard-table.

A represents the table, rectangular in form, but which may be of any desired size or proportions, and provided with a bed, B, of marble, slate, or wood, according to the quality of the table to be furnished to the trade. Cushions O may be of any of the approved forms, and provided with devices for imparting the proper tension to the cloth over the bed. One end of the table is provided with ten spots, a, arranged in the form of a triangle. Pins b are spotted, and by playing. the balls c from the opposite end of the table a complete game ot ten-pins is furnished. The balls c and pins b may be contained in a drawer arranged beneath the bed of the table, and the eues c' supported on hooks, also underneath the table, as in billiard-tables.

On the table as above described may be played either ten-pins, nine-pins, or cockedhat, the same as on an ordinary ten-pin alley. The opposite end of the table is provided with pockets D, (ten in number,) and arranged in the form of a triangle, the same as the spots on a ten-pin alley. These pockets are used for playing an improved gaine of bagatelle. ln the ordinary game of bagatelle the cushion extending around one end of the'table is semicircular in form, and hence the player is pre- ,vented from playing scientific cushion-shots.

For this reason the game of billiards has superseded that of bagatelle to a great extent;

In my improved table all the fascinating and scientific features of the games of billiards and bagatelle are combined. The pockets are preferably numbered in the manner illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, the most difcult pockets to pocket the ball being designated by the highest number, which in the present instance is 100. In order to pocketa ball shot from the center spot on the opposite side ofthe table, great skill may be exercised in making cushion-shots-as, for instance, in shooting the ball against the side cushion at d the ball will rebound at an angle and strike the end cushion at e, and rebound into the pocket numbered 100.

Another game'may be played, which consists in placing pins b on the spotsf, located in front of the pockets, and obli gin g the player to knock down a single pin before pocketing the ball. In this case the pin is the resisting medium, and skill must be exercised in striking the pin to cause the ball to be deiiected at the proper angle to drop into the desired pocket to be counted This table, as above described, may be con verted into a billiard-table in the following manner: The end cushion E is removable, and by detaching it and moving it just forward of the forward pocket and securing it in place there is formed a perfect billiard-table, on which all billiard-table games may be playedas `for instance, four-ball carom, French carom, pinpool, &c.

I do not restrict myself to any particular method of securing the removable cushion in place, as clamps, bolts, screws, or hooks may be used in different ways to accomplish such object.

Instead of making the end cushion removable, it may be permanently secured to the table, and an extra cushion furnished with each table, and a suitable rack or receptacle located beneath the bed ot' the tablebe provided for retaining the extra cushion while the table is being used for ten-pins or bagatelle.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a single table constructed in accordance with my invention will admit of a great variety of games to bc played thereon, and comprises all the essential features ot' a complete billiardtable, bagatelle-table, and ten-pin alley, and may be furnished for about theprice of an ordinary bagatelletable.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A game-table having a single bed and cushions arranged in rectangular form around the bed, the table provided with ten spots on one end, arranged in the form of a triangle, for the game of ten-pins, and ten pockets opposite at the other end for the game of bagatelle, substantially as set forth.

2. A rectangular game-table provided with ten spots on one end and ten pockets on the other end, said pockets having a number of pots in front of the same, substantially as set orth.

GEO. Ii. WITSIL.

IVitnesses:

F. O. MCGLEARY, A. W. BRIGHT. 

